Cricket Australia chief Kevin Roberts Thursday denied explosive revelations about the ball-tampering scandal had isolated David Warner and made it untenable for him to return to the international game.

Both Cameron Bancroft and Steve Smith have given bombshell interviews in recent days as they re-emerge into public life after the incident in South Africa in March that rattled the sport.

Observers have interpreted their tell-all comments as effectively throwing the divisive Warner under the bus.

Bancroft claimed he went along “to fit in” and because he “didn’t know any better”.Last week Smith also opened up about the incident, distancing himself from the plot while admitting he failed as a captain by turning a blind eye.

“I had the opportunity to stop it at that point rather than say, ‘I don’t want to know anything about it’,” he said.Roberts said the timing of the interviews wasn’t ideal, given they have overshadowed the crucial third Test against India, with the series tied 1-1.But he denied they impacted Warner’s chance of being brought back into the Australian fold.

“Our focus is on how we proactively look forward and work with the players, rather than be concerned with what has happened in the past.”

He also questioned whether anything new came out of the interviews, given an investigation had previously pointed to Warner as the mastermind and he had admitted responsibility for his part.

Meanwhile Darren Lehmann, who was coach at the time but stepped down in the aftermath of the vitriolic fallout, said Bancroft should have talked to him or other staff if he felt suffocated by the pressure.

“Yeah he could’ve and should’ve come to us,” he told Macquarie Sports Radio, where he is commentating on the third Test.